2016 -- H 7990

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- CITY HOUSING AUTHORITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Morin, Phillips, and Casey

     Date Introduced: March 24, 2016

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 45-25-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-25 entitled "City

Housing Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-25-10. Appointment and terms of commissioners -- Compensation, organization,

and personnel. -- (a) An authority consists of five (5) commissioners appointed by the mayor and

he or she shall designate the first chairperson; provided, that the housing authority of the city of

Providence consists of eleven (11) commissioners who are residents of the city of Providence,

and the housing authority of the city of Woonsocket shall consist of seven (7) members, two (2)

of whom shall be occupants of public housing. At all times three (3) of the commissioners must

be occupants of public housing, which commissioners shall be appointed from a list of nominees

chosen yearly by the occupants of public housing in open elections, each housing project

choosing three (3) nominees from among its occupants. Upon the determination of the appointing

authority that any commissioner has not been an occupant of public housing or not a resident of

the city of Providence for a period of six (6) consecutive months, the appointing authority shall

remove the commissioner and designate a person to fill the resultant vacancy; provided, that the

mayor choose the replacement from the list of nominees chosen yearly by the occupants of public

housing when appropriate. No commissioner may be a city or state official; provided, that

members of the housing authority of the city of Providence may serve on the city council.

      (b) The commissioners who are first appointed shall be designated by the mayor to serve

for terms of one, two (2), three (3), four (4), and five (5) years, respectively, from the date of their

appointment. Four (4) additional commissioners for the housing authority for the city of

Providence shall be designated by the mayor to serve terms of one, two (2), three (3), and four (4)

years, respectively, from the date of their appointment. The two (2) additional commissioners for

the city of Woonsocket shall be designated by the mayor to serve terms of one and two (2) years

respectively. Thereafter, the term of office shall be five (5) years. Two (2) additional

commissioners for the housing authority of the city of Providence shall be members of the city

council elected by the city council from its councilmanic members to serve for a term ending the

first Monday in January, 1975, and, thereafter, elected for a term of four (4) years. A

commissioner shall hold office until his or her successor has been appointed, or elected, and has

qualified. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. Three (3) commissioners constitute a

quorum except that six (6) commissioners of the housing authority of the city of Providence

constitute a quorum and four (4) commissioners of the housing authority of the city of

Woonsocket shall constitute a quorum.

      (c) The mayor shall file with the city clerk a certificate of the appointment or

reappointment of any commissioner, and the certificate is conclusive evidence of the due and

proper appointment of the commissioner. A commissioner of the city of Providence shall only

receive twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per meeting, but not in excess of twelve hundred dollars

($1,200) per year as compensation for his or her services, and the commissioner is entitled to the

necessary expenses including traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties, the

compensation and expenses to be paid by the municipality of Providence; provided, that a

commissioner of the city of Pawtucket receives one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) per

year and is entitled to the necessary expenses including traveling expenses incurred in the

discharge of his or her duties, to be paid by the city of Pawtucket; provided, that a commissioner

of the city of Central Falls receives twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per meeting but not in excess of

five hundred dollars ($500) per year as compensation for his or her services, and the

commissioner is entitled to the necessary expenses including traveling expenses incurred in the

discharge of his or her duties, to be paid by the city of Central Falls.

      (d) Effective January 1, 1988, and thereafter, a commissioner of the city of Warwick

receives one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per year, and the chairperson of the Warwick

housing authority receives one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) per year for their services

to be paid by the city of Warwick.

      (e) When the office of the first chairperson of the authority becomes vacant, the authority

shall select a chairperson from among its members. An authority shall select from its members a

vice chairperson, and it may employ a secretary (who shall be executive director), technical

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experts, and other officers, agents, and employees, permanent and temporary, that it may require,

and shall determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. An authority may call upon the

city solicitor or chief law officer of the city for legal services, as it may require, or it may employ

its own counsel and legal staff. An authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or

employees the powers or duties that it deems proper.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- CITY HOUSING AUTHORITIES

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     This act would increase the quorum requirement for the Woonsocket Housing Authority

from three (3) to four (4).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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